Matias D. Cattaneo, Rocio Titiunik, Ruiqi Rae Yu
arXiv 9 Nov 2025 · Econometrics
arXiv:2511.06474 · PDF · DOI · OpenAlex · Extracted main text
The boundary discontinuity (BD) design is a non-experimental method for identifying causal effects that exploits a thresholding rule based on a bivariate score and a boundary curve. This widely used method generalizes the univariate regression discontinuity design but introduces unique challenges arising from its multidimensional nature. We synthesize over 80 empirical papers that use the BD design, tracing the method's application from its formative stages to its implementation in modern research. We also overview ongoing theoretical and methodological research on identification, estimation, and inference for BD designs employing local polynomial regression, and offer recommendations for practice.
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The works this paper leans on most, across its whole bibliography — not restricted to papers in our corpus. Ranked by composite intensity, which combines how often a work is mentioned, how many sections mention it, and how much of that falls in the main text rather than the appendix.
| Reference | Intensity | Mentions | Sections | Main text | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cattaneo, Matias D. and Titiunik, Rocio and Yu, Ruiqi (Rae) (2025) Estimation and Inference in Boundary Discontinuity Designs: Location-Based Methods self | 1.000 | 17 | 5 | 100% |
| 2 | Cattaneo, Matias D. and Titiunik, Rocio and Yu, Ruiqi (Rae) (2026) Estimation and Inference in Boundary Discontinuity Designs: Pooling-Based Methods self | 1.000 | 11 | 4 | 100% |
| 3 | Cattaneo, Matias D. and Titiunik, Rocio and Yu, Ruiqi (Rae) (2025) Estimation and Inference in Boundary Discontinuity Designs: Distance-Based Methods self | 1.000 | 10 | 4 | 100% |
| 4 | Black, Sandra E (1999) Do better schools matter? Parental valuation of elementary education | 1.000 | 10 | 4 | 100% |
| 5 | Keele, Luke J. and Rocio Titiunik (2015) Geographic Boundaries as Regression Discontinuities self | 1.000 | 8 | 5 | 100% |
| 6 | Card, David and Krueger, Alan B (1994) Minimum Wages and Employment: A Case Study of the Fast-Food Industry in New Jersey and Pennsylvania | 1.000 | 8 | 3 | 100% |
| 7 | Holmes, Thomas J (1998) The effect of state policies on the location of manufacturing: Evidence from state borders | 1.000 | 8 | 3 | 100% |
| 8 | Londoño-Vélez, Juliana and Rodr\'iguez, Catherine and Sánchez, Fabio (2020) Upstream and downstream impacts of college merit-based financial aid for low-income students: Ser Pilo Paga in Colombia | 1.000 | 7 | 4 | 100% |
| 9 | Reardon, Sean F and Robinson, Joseph P (2012) Regression Discontinuity Designs with Multiple Rating-Score Variables | 1.000 | 5 | 4 | 100% |
| 10 | Wong, Vivian C and Steiner, Peter M and Cook, Thomas D (2013) Analyzing regression-discontinuity designs with multiple assignment variables: A comparative study of four estimation methods | 1.000 | 5 | 4 | 100% |
Showing the top 10 of 126 scored citations.
arXiv econ.EM papers that cite this one, ranked by how heavily they lean on it.
| Citing paper | Intensity | Mentions | Sections | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Statistical Decisions and Partial Identification: With Application to Boundary Discontinuity Design | 0.405 | 1 | 1 |